Electric kitchen utensil



Deoy 29, 1942. A. L5. Wmox 2,306,921

ELECTRCy KITCHEN UTENSIL Filed Nov. .25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29,1942. c. wlLcox ELECTRIC KITCHEN UTENSIL Filed Nov. 25, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 3 3f wan/IM /ri. what du/MJA Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC KITCHEN UTENSIL Albert C. Wilcox, EastLiverpool, Ohio Application November 25, 1939, Serial No. 306,115

(Cl. 21S- 40) 6 Claims.

'I'he invention relates to electrically operated kitchen utensils andmore particularly to electric water heating means therein, soconstructed that the electric circuit to the heating means.

is automatically closed by the placing of a certain amount of water inthe utensil and automatically opened when the water drops below apredetermined level.

An object of the invention is to provide a utensil of the characterreferred to provided with a thermally controlled valve which is closedat normal room temperature and which automatically opens when the waterreaches a desired temperature.

Another object is to provide an electric utensil equipped with an opencontact heating element comprising certain improvements upon my priorPatents No. 2,143,046, granted January l0, 1939, and No. 2,152,122,granted March 28, 1939.

'I'he above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by constructing the improved electric utensil in themanner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is avertical sectional View through a drip coffee maker embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view through the heating element taken ason the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of the watercontainer showing the thermally operated valve in open position;

Fig. 4, a top plan view of the stud in which the valve seat is located;

Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of an electricdrip coffee maker of the type shown -in Figure 1 with the spacedelectrodes of the heating element located in vertical position andattached to a side wall of the water container;

Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a drip coffeemaker provided with a conventional heating element in place of the openelectrode type shown in Figs. l and 5;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary sectional view of an open of heating elementlocated in upright position; and

Fig. 10, a fragmentary section taken as on the line |0-l0,Fig. 9.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to the construction of electric drip coffee maker,illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, a DOt or receptacle for thecoffee beverage is indicated at I5 and may be of any suitable anddesired material, preferably china-ware or pottery as illustrated.

'I'he ground coffee basket indicated generally at I6 may be of aluminumor other sheet metal, and is provided at its upper end with a peripheralbead I1 adapted t0 rest upon the inturned flange i8 at the upper openend of the pot or beverage receptacle I5.

At a point spaced above the bottom the coffee basket is provided with ashoulder l 9 upon which a perforated spreader plate 20 is arranged toseat.

The bottom wall 2| of the coffee basket is also perforated as in usualpractice.

The water container 22 is preferably formed of glass, although any otherinsulation material may be used, and has the reduced shouldered portion23 at its lower end forming a slightly concaved groove into which thegasket 24 is received. This gasket is slightly smaller in diameter thanthe shoulder 23 so that it may be stretched and snapped into position inthe groove to act as a cushion between the water container and the pot.

'I'he bottom wall 25 of the water container is inclined downward andtoward the center and .terminates in the central recessed portion 26having a central opening 21 through which is 1ocated a threaded stud 28formed of any suitable metal and having an annular flange 29 at itsupper end which fits tightly upon the rubber gasket 30 located withinthe recessed portion 25 of the bottom wall of the water container.

A rubber gasket 3| is placed against the under side of the recessedportion 26 when the Bakelite or other insulation material knob 32 ispositioned by means of the screw threaded insert 33 carried by theBakelite knob and arranged to engage the threaded stud 28.

A vertical central opening 34 is formed in the stud 28 having theconical valve seat 35 formed at a point spaced below the upper end ofthe stud, the opening being enlarged above said valve seat as indicatedat 36.

A central water port 3l is formed in the Bakelite knob 32 communicatingwith the corresponding port 3d in the stud.

A plurality of radial 'grooves 31 are formed in the upper surface of theannular ilange 29 oi' the stud for a purpose to be later described.

A conical valve 39 is adapted to seat upon the valve seat 35 and isprovided with the depending lead pin t9 and with the upright valve stemBi to the upper end of which is connected a solid ball knob 42.

The valve is arranged to be closed under normal temperatures in themanner shown in Figure l, and for the purpose ci. opening the same apair of bi-metal strips d3 is provided, these strips being connectedtogether at their outer ends as by the rivet 4t, and being provided withapertures 55 near their inner ends, through which the valve stem di isslidably mounted.

These bi-metal strips are arranged to ex in opposite directions underheat, in the manner shown in Fig. 3 so as to raise the valve 39 from thevalve seat 35.

A lid t preferably formed of Bakelite or similar material is adapted toclose the upper open Vend of the water container 22. An integraldepending extension il is formed upon this lid terminating at its lowerend in an inverted housing se for the upper carbon electrode 49 whichmay be of annular form having a central opening Sli through which thedepending central boss 5i, oi the extension di, is located.

The insulation extension el may be of the length shown in Figure 1 ormay be varied in length to govern the timing of the boiling of thewater, shortening of the extension lengthening the time necessary tobring the water to the boiling point while lengthening of vthe extensionshortens the time.

The electrode 69 is held in the housing i8 by means of the stainlesssteel screws 52 having heads 53 at their lower ends countersunk in theelectrode and nuts 54 at their upper ends located within the recess 55in the lid.

A central screw 58 is also provided having a hollow internally threadedhead 57 countersunk in the central boss 5l of the electrode and providedwith a nut it, the upper threaded end of the screw extendingconsiderably above said nut and through the cover plate 59 and receivingthe threaded Bakelite knob 60.

A Bakelite cup 6I contains the lower carbon electrode 62, a. screw 99being located through the lower electrode 62 and threaded into thehollow head 51, the head oi' said screw being imbedded in the Bakelitecup BI.

A lock nut 64 is countersunk in the top of the lower electrode 62 andholds the electrode S2 in the cup 9i. A

A Bakelite spacer 65 is located between the upper and lower electrodes.This spacer is interchangeable and may be replaced by spacers of varyingthicknesses as may be required for controlling the heating of water fromdifferent localities. Y

An electric cord 66 is located through a suitable aperture`91 in thecover plate 59, one wire 68 thereof being connected to one of the screws52 and then to the other screw 52 as by a jumper 69, while the otherwire 'l0 of the cord is connected to the central screw 56. Thus, it willbe seen that the wire 68 is connected to the upper electrode 49 and thewire I0 is connected to the lower electrode 92.

trode I9 and the Bakelite housing It for the release oi.' the water andsteam.

In the operation of the improved drip coffee maker the valve 39 isinserted in place in the bottom of the water container, being seatedupon the valve seat 35 as shown in Figure 1.

Cold water is then poured into the water container up to the line C-C.The bi-metal strips t8 being cold, these strips are contracted togetheras shown in Figure 1 permitting the valve 39 to tightly it, thuspreventing the water from passing down through the port 3d.

It should be understood, of course, that the proper amount of groundcoffee has first been placed in the co'ee basket and the spreader plate2u placed in position thereon.

The lid t6 carrying the electrodes is then placed in position upon thetop of the water container, inserting the electrodes into the water tothe depth shown in Figure 1 and the cord 66 is plugged into a basereceptacle or socket.

The water then completes the circuit between the electrodes 59 and 62and the heating action of the water immediately starts.

By this heating action water is drawn in between the electrodes at theline B-B, being drawn or circulated in the direction of the arrows R andiiowing up through the ports ll.

This action continues until the water above the line B-B reaches orclosely approximates the boiling point, after which the heat starts toradiate downward from the line B-B and a fiow of water to the electrodesis created as indicated by the arrows U.

This radiation and ow of water continues downward to the line D--D andthen on down to the line E-E.. both oi which are shown in Figure 1, andnally when the boiling action reaches the bi-metal strips 43 thesebi-metal strips expand to the position shown in Fig. 3 opening the valve39 and permitting the hot 'water to iiow down through the port 94 ontothe spreader plate 20 where it is evenly distributed as it passesthrough the ground coiiee in the coiee basket.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the invention, in which the openelectrodes are located in upright position and connected to the side ofthe glass water container 22a.

As the electrodes are thus not removed from the water container when thelid is removed, safety means such as shown in my Patent No. 2,152,122,dated March 28, 1938, may be provided upon the lid 46a for preventingthe plug-in points 12 from being engaged by the connector plug 1l whenthe lid is open, the curved flange 14' of the lid being adapted tooperate in the manner disclosed in said prior patent whereby the lid maynot be opened while the electrodes are electrically connected and theelectrodes may not be electrically connected while the lid is open.

The housing 48a in which the electrode 49a is mounted may be connectedto the side wall of the container 22a by the screw 56a having the hollowthreaded head 51a which receives the screw 63a, the head of which isembedded in the cup Bia carrying the other electrode 62a, a spacer ofdesired thickness being located between the electrodes as indicated ata.

One of the plug-in points 12 is connected by a wire 68aV with one of thescrews 52a, a jumper wire 69a connecting the screws 52a together. 'I'heother plug-in post is connected by a wire 19a to the central screw 56a.

The same construction of bi-metal operated through the ports 80.

valve is provided in the bottom of the container 22a, and the rest ofthe drip coil'ee maker may be constructed just the saine as shown inFigure l and the operation will be substantially as above described.

As the container 22a is illled with cold water and plugged into anelectric receptacle or socket, the water will be permitted to circulateupward between the spaced electrodes and the boiling action will takeplace substantially from the line H-H to the line G-G and will thenradiate downward and cause the operation of the bimetal valve mechanism,opening the valve as above described.

A metal cover 15 may be provided over the wiring to the electrodes and aBakelite knob 18 may be placed upon the end of the screw 56a for holdingthe metal cover in place.

In Fig. 'I is shown an electrode construction substantially the same asshown in Fig. 1 with the addition of a circulating tube 11 formed uponthe lower Bakelite cup 8|, ports 18 being located through the cup 8| andelectrode 82.

With this circulating tube provided upon the lower Bakelite cup, thewater will be circulated lar extension 19 provided with the spacedcavities 80 and 8|.

The heating element of any ordinary type of wire element is locatedwithin the larger cavity 80 and as indicated at 82 may comprise aconventional wire element encased in a metal container. and in the othercavity 8| is located a pair of switch clips 83.

The electric cord 84 is located through an opening in the cover plate 85which is retained upon the lid 48h to cover the wiring.

One wire 8E leads from the cord 84 to one switch clip 83 and the otherwire 81 leads from the cord 84 to one side of the element 82, the otherside of the element being connected to the other switch clip 83.

A hollow metal ball float 88 is located in the smaller cavity 8| andadapted t0 normally rest upon the stop pin 89 at the bottom of saidcavity.

When water is poured into the container and rises toward the top of thesame the float ball 88 will be moved to the dotted line position closingthe circuit through the switch clips 83 to the element 82.

As the element is heated the Water begins to circulate, as indicated bythe arrows, ilowing out The water reaches the boiling point between thelines K-K and J-J after which it radiates and circulates downward untilit ilnally operates the valve in the manner above described.

In Fig. 8 is shown a slight modcation of the form of the invention shownin Fig. 6. the cavity lla in which the float ball 88a operates to closethe circuit through the switch clips 83a is located in a verticalposition while the cavity 80a in which the element 82a is located, ishorizontally disposed.

Circulation of the water through the ports 80a permits the water to beheated as it circulates around the heating element.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the invention is shown applied to a teakettle whichmay be porcelain, glass or similar material, as indicated generally at|00 and provided with a lid |0|. If desired, the heating elements suchas shown in Figs. l. 6 and 'I may be suspended from the lid in themanner above described.

As shown in Fig. 9, the open electrode type of heating means may beprovided in upright position connected to one wall of the teakettle.

The lower or outer electrode |02 may be connected to the adjacent sidewallof the teakettle body as by the machine screw studs |03, a fiberwasher |04 and metal washer |05 being located around each stud beneaththe nut |06, a stainless steel machine screw |01 being inserted throughthe electrode |02 and into each stud |33.

The machine screw stud |08 is located through the central insulatingbushing |08 and through the adjacent wall of the teakettle, a ilberwasher |04 and metal washer |05 being located around said stud beneaththe nut |06.

A rubber gasket ||0 may be provided between the electrode |02 and theadjacent wall of the teakettle. t

The other electrode may be mounted in the Bakelite cup ||2` within whichthe threaded metal insert ||3 is embedded, a lock nut Ill holding saidmetal insert in` place.

An interchangeable lBakelite spacer ||5 is located around the screw. ||3to space the electrodes apart when said screw is received in theinternally threaded socket of the stud |08.

A sheet metal caseor housing I I6 may cover the connection abovedescribed, and a handle ||1 of any suitable material may be connected tothe body of the teakettle as by a machine screw ||8 located through theupper end of the handle or through a wood or Bakelite pedestal I I9 andthrough the adjacent wall portion of the teakettle body and providedwith the fiber washer |20 and nut |2|.

The lower end of the handle H1 receives the reduced threaded end |22 ofthe stud |08 and a knob |23 of Bakelite or the like with threaded metalinsert may be received upon the reduced screw |22.

Thermal points |24 of usual construction may be connected. to andinsulated from the housing ||6 and electrically connected to theelectrodes by means of the wire |25 leading from one thermal point tothe central stud |08 and the wire |26 leadingfrom the other thermalpoint to one of the studs |03. a jumper wire |21 connecting the studs|03.

The operation of the teakettle will be apparent from the abovedescription regarding thedrip coffee makers.

It has been found by experience that the electrodes when set at an angleas shown in Fig. 9 permits a greater activity of the current than whenset in a horizontal position in the bottom of the kettle.

For instance, it has been found that with a certain size spacer in thebottom of the kettle would pull 1200 watts, while setting on an angle asshown in Fig. 9, and using the same size spacer it would pull 2000watts.

The reason for this is that when boiling in the core of a vacuum ofwater there is a thin film of steam forms on the bottom surface of theupper electrode which does not permit the water to readily contact theupper electrode, while when the electrodes are set at an angle as shownin Fig. 9, the steam moves upward rapidly between the electrodesfollowed by the lower temperature water circulating therethrough,permitting ready contact and a faster boiling activity.

I claim:

1. An automatic electric utensil including a water container lhaving aremovable lid, an electric heating unit within the water containercomprising a disc shape electrode suspended from the lid of thecontainer, a second disc shape electrode supported upon and spaced fromthe ilrst electrode, means insulating the electrodes from each other anda normally open electric circuit in which the electrodes are located, sothat the placing of water in the container automatically closes thecircuit when the water reaches a level bridging the space between theelectrodes. an outlet valve in the water container, and means operatedby the heating of the water in the container for opening said valve.

2. An automatic electric utensil including a water container having aremovable lid, an electric heating unit within the water containercomprisingahorizontally disposed disc shape electrode suspended from thelid of the container, a second horizontally disposed disc shapeelectrode supported upon and spaced below the rst electrode, meansinsulating the electrodes from each other and a normally open electriccircuit in which the electrodes are located, so that the placing ofwater in the container automatically closes the circuit when the waterreaches a level bridging the space between the electrodes, an outletvalve in the water container, and means operated by the heating of thewater for opening the valve.

3. An automatic electric utensil including a water container, anelectric heating element within the water container, an open electriccircuit connected to said heating element, a pair of spaced switch clipsin said circuit, a hollow metal ball arranged to contact with bothswitch clips to close said circuit, and means for guiding the ball toand from said switch clips so that the circuit will be closed when apredetermined amount of water is placed in the container, an outletvalve in the water container and means operated by the heating of waterin the container for opening the valve.

4. An automatic electric utensil including a water container, anelectric heating element `within the water container, an open electriccircuit connected to said heatingelement, a pair of spaced switch clipsin said circuit, said clips being located at a point spaced above thebottom of said heating element, a hollow metal ball arranged to contactwith both of said switch clips to close said circuit, means for guidingthe ball to and from said switch clips so that the circuit will beclosed when water in the container reachesy a predetermined level abovethe bottom oi said heating element, an outlet valve in the container,and means operated by the heating of the water inthe container foropening said valve.

5. An automatic electric utensil including a water container, a housingin the container, the housing having ports to permit circulation oi'water therethrough, an electric heating element Y within the housing, anopen electric circuit connected to said heating means. a pair of spacedswitch clips in said circuit, an upright cavity in the housing open atits lower end, said switch clips being located in said cavity at a pointspaced above the bottom of the heating element, a hollow metalballlocated in said upright cavity and arranged to contact with both ofsaid switch clips to close said circuit when a predetermined amount ofwater is placed in said water container, an outlet valve in the watercontainer and means operated by the heating of water in the containerfor opening said valve.

6. An automatic electric utensil including a water container, a housingin the container open at its lower end, the housing having ports topermit circulation of water therethrough, an electric heating elementwithin the housing, an open electric circuit connected to said heatingmeans, a pair of spaced switch clips in said circuit, an upright cavityin the housing open at its lower end, said switch clips being located insaid cavity at a point spaced above the bottom o! the heating element, ahollow metal ball located in said upright cavity and arranged to contactwith both of said switch clips to close said circuit when apredetermined amount of water is placed in said water container, anoutlet valve in the water container and means operated by the heating ofwater in the container for opening said valve.

ALBERT C. WILCOX. n

